February is Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular health and improve outcomes for patients with heart disease. For healthcare professionals, leveraging interoperability tools—including Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) alerts, Electronic Management of Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (emPOLST) and the Master Person Index (MPI)—can significantly enhance care coordination and patient safety. These technologies ensure communication across care settings, leading to better clinical decision-making and can assist with reducing hospital readmissions.
ADT Alerts: Enhancing Coordination and Preventing Readmissions
ADT alerts provide real-time notifications when a patient is admitted, discharged, or transferred between healthcare settings. For cardiac patients, these alerts are critical in ensuring timely follow-ups to prevent complications post-discharge. ADT alerts improve care coordination by keeping cardiologists, primary care providers, and home health teams informed about a patient’s status. Research shows that ADT alerts reduce hospital readmissions and improve transitions of care.
Ensuring Adherence to Patient Wishes
A digital Electronic Management of Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (emPOLST) system ensures that cardiac patients’ treatment preferences are honored, especially in emergencies. This system allows emergency responders and hospital staff to retrieve POLST data instantly, ensuring immediate access to critical information. Standardized documentation reduces discrepancies in care, while patient-centered care is enhanced by ensuring that interventions align with a patient’s values and medical preferences.
Electronic Management of Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (emPOLST) systems have been shown to improve compliance with patient preferences and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.
Master Person Index (MPI): Reducing Errors and Improving Data Integrity
A Master Person Index (MPI) links patient records across different providers, reducing duplicate records and mismatched data. This is crucial for cardiac patients who often require multidisciplinary care. Accurate patient matching prevents fragmented medical histories, while improved data integrity ensures precision in medication reconciliation and allergy documentation. Seamless information sharing facilitates better coordination among hospitals, specialists, and emergency responders.
The Future of Cardiac Care with Interoperability
As we observe Heart Month, healthcare professionals must continue to leverage interoperability solutions to provide better, safer, and more coordinated care for cardiac patients. By adopting ADT alerts, Electronic Management of Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (emPOLST), and MPI technology, we can reduce hospital readmissions, support patient-centered care, and improve outcomes for individuals living with cardiovascular conditions. To learn more about interoperability and digital transformation visit: https://www.himss.org